Lhasa Apso
Non-Sporting Group
Breed Standard

Character

Gay and assertive, but chary of strangers.

Size

Variable, but about 10 inches or 11 inches at shoulder for dogs, bitches slightly smaller.

Color

All colors equally acceptable with or without dark tips to ears and beard.

Body Shape

The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks longer than height at withers, well ribbed up, strong loin, well-developed quarters and thighs.

Coat

Heavy, straight, hard, not woolly nor silky, of good length, and very dense.

Mouth and Muzzle

The preferred bite is either level or slightly undershot. Muzzle of medium length; a square muzzle is objectionable.

Head

Heavy head furnishings with good fall over eyes, good whiskers and beard; skull narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree, not quite flat, but not domed or apple-shaped; straight foreface of fair length. Nose black, the length from tip of nose to eye to be roughly about one-third of the total length from nose to back of skull.

Eyes

Dark brown, neither very large and full, nor very small and sunk.

Ears

Pendant, heavily feathered.

Legs

Forelegs straight; both forelegs and hind legs heavily furnished with hair.

Feet

Well feathered, should be round and catlike, with good pads.

Tail and Carriage

Well feathered, should be carried well over back in a screw; there may be a kink at the end. A low carriage of stern is a serious fault.

Approved July 11, 1978